River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-04-21
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER XXXIII.

CHAPTER XxXIII.
began to feel alarmed as the lights Of
the lamps and the shop windows shone
upon Mary's white face and closed eyes.
But as l was upon the point of ordering
the driver to stop at the first chemists shop
1 observed signs Of returning Ii g.
Mary opened her eyes. She started from
me with energy, casting a look of piteous
resolution at me, which spoke eloquent of
the persecution and misery she had under
gone.
Mary said, ''my darling, you are
safe nowl"
All the misery, and ten thousand times
the dangers had gone through were as
nothing compared with the happiness of
seeing the change which came over that
beautiful and gentle face when l sboke.
There is something very piteous in the
sight of the weak standing at bay, the de-
fenceless at last befriended by despair.
Some desperate resolution of resistance il
was, some impulse Of escape at any cost,
which prompted her to spring from my
shielding embrace, and turned the appeal
ing fear of her eyes into a look of troubled
courage IL showed that the limit of en-
durance had been reached, and that her
enemies would no longer have had passive
victim 10 reckon with. Though if her res
ue had been delayed but "a little while
longer, the lastinct OF defiance would, in all
probability, have been aroused too late.
AT the sound of my voice she started,
she seized my hands and looked into my
lace. Then the reVusiOn of feeling, from
m
" OF safety, sent such light into her face
that IL positively seemed 70 illuminate the
carriage, and to put the bright lights Of
the shops and of the streets 20 shame.
There was no time for inquiry or for ex-
PLANTATION yet. The time was all too short
for the happiness that flooded our whole
beings.
safe Safer was the burden of the bliss
full song that was singing in our hearts, and
Transforming the somewhat dingy iacre
into "A CInderella's chariot, which would not
lose its magic beauty for the striking Of all
the clOCks in all the steeples of Antwerp.
SOOn-all too soon now, we clattered up
TO the door of the Hotel st Antoine. There
the first face | saw was Shaw's aud being
free from the torturing anxiety of the last
few hours, had time to feel some COM
junction for the way | had left him. He
looked positively i'll with an anxiety, and
the relief and the exultatiOn which he
showed at our safe return warmed my
than before.
Mary Was committed to the care Of the
landlady, and everything was done TO con
duce to her security ana comfort: but, tired
as she was she would not 20 TO bed before
see had joined Shaw and me, and sweetly
and thoughtfully thanked our good friend
for all that he had done on her and my be
half.
Shaw exercised little of his professional
authority after while lmpreSslng upon
her the necessity Of thorough repose after
all the dangers and anXleties she had gone
through.
was glad be did So for felt that he was
right, but l could not bring myself to sug-
gest anything which should shorten the
first delightful talk, away from the horrible
atmosphere of mystery and crime that over
hung Hanover Lodge. free from the fear of
Plowitz, and the equally INSCRIPTIONS and
more dangerous Basilisk,
When Mary had gone / told Shaw my
story more in detail. 1t had been told al
ready amid the excitement and Interrupt
tons of a general comparing Of notes.
learnt now that Harper had been search.
ing Tor me, full of fears for my safety, and
that Information had been sent over that
the mystery of the explosion at Hanover
Lodge had not been cleared up, that nc
trace Of any of the inmates could be found
and that no bodies had yet been discovered.
Aud WHAT said Shaw, ''do you sup
pose the Basilisk will do now"
II cannot Gelis cannot mink az all vet. ~
answered. Il don't see what she can do.
but feel sure that il she can do US any
harm she will; and she is not an enemy to
be despised."
4 'By no means; but she must keep quiet
now for a while. Her intimate relations
with Plowitz, who was apprehended on a
charge quite distinct from the attempted
abduction Of Alss Fortescue, will prejudice
her greatly II she brings herself in any way
under the notice of tine authorities.
fstfrs 4
l said I've shall hear no more of Mr..
Beaufoy now, and circumstances have
made us her guardians"
Yes, said SHAW; the sooner we are
back III England the better.n
And we talked long and late over our
plans, arranging finally that Shaw should
make arrangements for Mary to stay for
the present with his sister, "a widow, who
had large and pleasant house at Ricls-
mOnd, where she generally had charge Of
two or three Indian children. We must
then see what could be done to find out
toe state OF her affairs and await the up
shot OF the police enquiries into the case of
PlOWltZ ana the disaster at Hanover Lodge
Then, with a hearty and congratulatoTy
shake Of the hand, and with minds free
from care and full of nope, we parted, ana
| slept as a man should who had gone
through great suspense and come out tri
Umphaut.
In the morning Mary appeared looking.
y
for her troubles and fatigues Joy, hope,
and security had wrought great change in
one night of serene rest. Accompanied by
Harper and a subordinate, 1 set out about
eleven O'Clock for the scene Of last nights
adventure, to obtain from old Mdme. Del
bruyck all the details we could, with view
to bringing the Basiisk within the grasp Of
the law. We arrived to find the house de
serted and shut up
mo matter said Harper; tive shall be
able to Law hands on Them
We then proceeded to the house where
Plowltz had first taken Mary, and found
there the small travelling trunk which was
all she lad been allowed to bring with her
Well" said / on our return, 1--WE had
better cross by to night boat.
"NOu can't very WE'LL said Harper, I'M
less you're going 70 let the whole thing
drop"
This was quite willing TO do, though the
desire of seeing cOndign punishment in
flicted upon all who had had a share in this
fendish scheme was very strong. Shaw at
first advised strong measures, but Mary was
evidently i'll at ease TIL she should be again
on English ground, and this time among
friends.
"What does it matter?" asked. ''Plowitz
is accounted for without our interference
The Delbruycks were only instruments in
the hands of Miss BeaufOy. She will scarcely
be able to harm us again. She can never
return to England
And Mr. Beaufovln said Shaw
ale has covered the traces of his Illegal
practices with the ruins of his house. lie
will not be heard of again. What viii his
safety be worth now Piowitz is captured Z =
"BUt it would be well to see him. said
Shaw-''tU make him give some account Of
lis stewardship Of Miss Fortescue 5 al
fairs"
"That doesn't matter" said Mary ner-
vously. al would rather not see him again
-everl"
"But / should" said l. at is very i'm
portant that we should see Mr.. Beaufoy
somehow.
At this moment the door was thrown
open and a waiter announced:
"a gentleman to see mademOiSelieI"
And With disagreeable smile upon his
face, taultlessly dressed, and looking the
picture of prosperity and influential re
spectability, MIR Beaufoy strobe into tie
room. He was accompanied by an official
looking individual, Belgian. There was
moment of silence on our part from aston
ishment. Mary shfunk back between Shaw
and me and put her hand in mine.
Il am GOMEZ said Mr.. Beaufoy, to fetch
my ward, Mary, get ready at once, my
dear, to come with me. And you, sir, you
will have a very awkward task in justifying
your conduct. Perhaps you will have the
goodness TO give what explanation you can
OF your proceedings"